ACC All Access: Virginia Tech's Vandyke, Gregory out for season; Coleman out at least two weeks

By Norm Wood

BLACKSBURG — If what Virginia Tech has done with its depth chart thus far in preseason practices qualifies as creative, the coaching staff may have to get downright revolutionary with personnel shuffling after seeing Thursday’s injury report.

Ronny Vandyke, the projected starter at outside linebacker, will miss the season with a right shoulder injury that will require surgery and six-to-eight months of rehabilitation. Running back J.C. Coleman, who is competing for a starting job heading into Tech's opener Aug. 31 in Atlanta against Alabama, will be out for at least two weeks with a high left ankle sprain and a regular sprain of his right ankle.

Offensive tackle Mark Shuman, who was has worked with the first and second teams this preseason, will be out four-to-six weeks after he has surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. Senior backup running back Tony Gregory’s college career effectively has come to an end after re-tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the fourth ACL tear of his football career.

Backup offensive tackle Augie Conte is dealing with a sprained left ankle. He should be back to full strength by Monday at the latest, and may be able to participate in Saturday’s scrimmage.

Vandyke, a sophomore, suffered what he called a shoulder dislocation last Saturday night in team drills prior to a scrimmage. Tech’s training staff called it a sprain. Vandyke was optimistic Wednesday he could just rehab the injury with trips to the training room and be back in practice soon, but that’s not the case.

“Ronny needs surgery on his right shoulder,” said trainer Mike Goforth in a release from Tech’s athletic department. “We are waiting to talk to his mom to get a surgical plan, but it will keep him out six to eight months, so he will miss the remainder of the season and will be probable for spring ball.”

Coleman, who is also a sophomore, sustained his ankle sprains Wednesday when he was rolled upon during middle drill. Goforth hopes he’ll be ready in time for the Alabama game.

“We’re hoping to get him back in less than two weeks, but that’s very optimistic,” said Goforth in the release. “We think he’ll be ready and back in time for the Alabama game. He’s working hard to get back as soon as he can.”

Shuman has had surgery on his right knee in the past. He’ll have more surgery early next week.

“We’ll be talking to his parents (Thursday night) and getting a plan together,” said Goforth in the release. “It’s the same knee he’s had scoped before. He’s actually torn the meniscus before in a different location.”

With Vandyke out, Tech is in a serious bind at outside linebacker. Walk-on Josh Trimble had been working with the first team while Vandyke’s absent from practice, and walk-on Derek DiNardo was working with the second team.

Tech could shift some players around to try to add some depth to the outside linebacker spot. Freshman Kendall Fuller practiced exclusively at nickel package outside linebacker in the first week of practice, but he’s been practicing this week at first team cornerback.

Gregory’s injury is the most devastating, considering he won’t see the field again. The injuries to Coleman and Gregory leave Tech extremely thin in the backfield.

Redshirt freshman Trey Edmunds will receive the bulk of the work leading up to the Alabama game, and he may be in line for a lot of carries on game night if Coleman isn’t 100 percent. Redshirt freshman Joel Caleb was moved from wide receiver to running back last week, but he’s suspended for the Alabama game due to a violation of team rules.

Tech may have to consider moving redshirt freshman Chris Mangus back to running back. He was moved last week to receiver. Sophomore Maurice Taylor and walk-on Daniel Dyer will certainly get additional reps in the backfield in practice.